"Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Nothing about God's overall plan for the world, as revealed through Bible prophecy, is going to change. The major events of the Endtime, the major participants, and the final outcome--those are all settled. "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven" (Psalm 119:89). "I am the Lord, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). God doesn't change, His Word doesn't change, and His prophetic plans for the world are not going to change.

There are certain specifics that we can be sure of: We know that (1) Jesus is coming back, (2) that following His return all those who have received Jesus as their Savior are going to (3) receive their eternal bodies, (4) be transported to Heaven (the Rapture) where they will (5) enjoy the Marriage Feast of the Lamb in that gorgeous Heavenly City, while (6) there's hell on Earth and the Wrath of God is being poured out below on the defiant, rebellious, and wicked followers of the Antichrist. We know that is going to be followed by (7) the Battle of Armageddon (the total defeat of the Antichrist and his regime), which will be followed by (8) the Millennium (the thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth). We also know (9) the Millennium will end with the Battle of Gog and Magog (another war between the godly and the ungodly), and will be followed by (10) a total restoration of the earth's surface (the New Heaven and New Earth). All this is very clear and very definite. They cannot be doubted or denied, because it's all very clear right there in the Bible.

These are events we know, and the closer we get to these things, the more specific and exact our knowledge of these and related events will be. Many of the details regarding future events are not yet clear, but we are told what things to watch for, key points on the future timeline, from which we will then be able to accurately determine the sequence and timing of other major events yet to come.

So what we need to know first as we study the Word of God are the things that are unchangeable--the established facts that are clearly stated in the Scriptures. These make up the foundation for further interpretation of Bible prophecy. You have to know these fundamentals of Bible prophecy before you can attempt to understand what might happen, and how and when. (Editor's note: Most of these foundation facts of Bible prophecy are explained in the booklet The Future Foretold, also from Aurora Production.)

Blessed Are Those Who Understand

Bible scholars are in general agreement on the interpretation of prophecies concerning past events. There can be little question about these because the events have already happened. Empires have come and gone and other events have happened, just like God said they would, sometimes hundreds of years beforehand. It's not hard to understand or teach fulfilled Bible prophecy; it's already happened, so the interpretation is obvious. But prophecies become a lot less obvious when they deal with events in the future. This is where most differences in doctrines and interpretations come up.

But just because some points are unclear or controversial is no reason to not try to figure them out. God's Word says of those reading the book of Revelation, "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it" (Revelation 1:3 NIV)--and the same goes for any other prophetic messages found in the Bible. It takes effort to try to understand Bible prophecy, to compare Scripture with Scripture till you arrive at the most plausible interpretations, but God says you will be blessed if you do.

You don't have to know all the prophetic details of the future; they'll happen whether you know them or not, don't worry! But it's good to try to know as much as you can so you'll know what's going on and will be able to warn and instruct others.

Basic Guidelines

There are a few basic rules to interpreting God's Word. The first is: Interpret it literally, if possible. If it can mean exactly what it says, then it probably doesn't even have to be interpreted. Don't try to read into it some unusual, undercover significance or meaning. If a Bible verse or passage makes sense literally, take it literally.

But if it doesn't sound reasonable or logical, or it just seems like it's virtually impossible to interpret it literally, it may be symbolic. Study its context thoroughly to see if and how the symbolism is explained. Take the image and the beasts in the book of Daniel, for example: They are all interpreted by the angel or the man that appeared to Daniel, or by Daniel himself. We're told what each of these things represent, so those passages are obviously symbolic and we're given the interpretations.

If you can't find the explanation of a passage in its context, then try looking elsewhere in the Bible for where the same terms are used. See how they're used and what they mean in other places.

Most important, when you come across mysteries in the Word, let the Author Himself explain them to you. "Call to Me," He tells us in Jeremiah 33:3, "and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Ask God to lead you step by step to the right interpretation. Of course there will be some things that God won't reveal to you just yet, because they're not close enough that you need to know them. But keep asking and seeking and knocking, and when the time is right, He will help you understand.